American Christianities: What Do Christians Want?
RELI 226
Fall 2025
| Section:
01
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| Course Cluster and Certificates: Christianity Studies |
The course explores contemporary Evangelical Christianity in the United States, and focuses largely on white Evangelicals and how they are shaping our current moment in profound ways. We will interrogate how ideals of the nation, civil religion, the prosperity gospel, capitalism, and the family shape Christian social action. Religion is not only what groups think and believe, but also what they do. We will examine why Christians love Wal-Mart, fund global humanitarian efforts, travel on international missions, use digital media and become influencers, support anti-abortion activism, wage spiritual warfare against demons, and more. By considering a variety of conservative Christian groups, we will critically evaluate the diverse social imaginaries, theological frameworks, and historical foundations that shape this strand of contemporary U.S. Christianities. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (Religion Minor)(Religion) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Maurice Wiles, "What Christians Believe," in THE OXFORD ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY, 1990.
Omri Elisha, MORAL AMBITION: MOBILIZATION AND SOCIAL OUTREACH IN EVANGELICAL MEGACHURCHES. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2011.
Birgit Meyer, "Religious Sensations. Why Media, Aesthetics and Power Matter in the Study of Contemporary Religion" (Presentation, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, October 6, 2006).
Bethany Moreton, TO SERVE GOD AND WALMART: THE MAKING OF CHRISTIAN FREE ENTERPRISE. Harvard U Press, 2010.
Cristina Rocha, "Cool Christianity: The Fashion-Celebrity-Megachurch Industrial Complex," Material Religion 17, no. 5 (2021): 580-602.
R. Marie Griffith, MORAL COMBAT: HOW SEX DIVIDED AMERICAN CHRISTIANS AND FRACTURED AMERICAN POLITICS New York: Basic Books, 2017.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly Response papers, active participation in discussion, one class opening presentation, two 5-page essays and and a final presentation are the course requirements. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course fulfills the "Historical Traditions" and "additional course" requirements for the Religion major. |
| Instructor(s): McAlister,Elizabeth A. Times: ..T.R.. 10:20AM-11:40AM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 7 | | |
| Seats Available: 15 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 3 | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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